Thursday, October 27, 2016

Smashbox Lighting Theory Palette Review & Swatches

Oh...you...guys! I jumped out on a HUGE beauty limb and purchased Smashbox's Lighting Theory Palette (Exclusive, Limited Edition, Sephora) a couple of months ago! When I started reviewing makeup several years ago, I promised myself I would never need or buy one of these things (multi-functional palettes) ;) HaHaHa I just saw them as having SO MUCH STUFF IN THEM! What do you need all that stuff for!?! Well, now I'm the proud owner of one. HaHaHa How times have changed! LOL What are my thoughts? Let's break it down! Let's break it down! :P I'm gonna break it down for ya! >.<

This palette reminds me of a small address book. It comfortably fits in one hand. So that's good! The hard silver cover is both chic & durable. As you can see, it's reflective of light (as it's name suggests). A black elastic strap keeps it closed. The palette is split into two sides! On the left, you have a row of color correctors, contour shade, bronzer, highlighter and strobe shades. A hard plastic cover (protector), opens & closes atop these. When "dipping" and "swirling" your beauty blender or brush into these shades it can get a little messy (overlapping onto the black background). So the plastic protector helps everything stay in place. You don't want all of that to transfer to the other side of the palette. On the right, you're given 16 eye shadows and 3 blushes. Information cards are also included in this palette, giving you easy instruction on how to use it all. Overall, the packaging is very neat & tidy. I really like that. Each side is also removable.

Cream Color Correctors

I pretty much dismissed color correctors the beginning of this year! LOL I said to myself, JUST ANOTHER THING TO BUY AND TAKE OUR MONEY. HaHaHa But you know what! I've had a hectic year and dark circles started creeping up. My concealer took care of some of it, but I felt I needed more. So I started dabbling with correctors. Four are included in this palette. The green is to cancel out redness. The lavender is to help with dullness. The peach is for dark circles & hyper-pigmentation (fair-medium skin tones). The orange is for dark circles & hyper-pigmentation for (medium-deep skin tones). These are in cream form! And you know what? They work! You use these for your problem areas and then apply your makeup. I find myself using both the peach and orange. Once I applied foundation, you didn't see any orange. The one, you really have to watch though is the green. Sometimes if I applied too much, it would really peek through. Have you tried color correcting?

Cream Contour, Bronzer & Highlight

I just started warming up to contouring this year! Contouring was the rave last year. I'm always behind, but that's ok. Most of the contouring that I have done is with POWDERS! These are CREAMS! I was very scared to use them. You're given a cream contour, bronzer and highlighter in this palette. Bronze with a CREAM???? Yepppp! Let me tell you, I really like them. They were creamy, not heavy and really easy to apply. I was worried that they would be thick, but they apply with a thin layer. Blending was super easy. Even more so than a powder. With powders, I'm constantly buffing to blend it out. I was impressed. The Highlight really did add light to my face. As you guys know, all of my highlighters and illuminators have been powders. So these were refreshing.

Strobing

I've never tried Strobing. Strobing is HIGH VOLTAGE highlighting. Highlighting to the max! LOL The strobing shades in this palette are luminous pink, gold and peach :) My favorites are the gold and peach for my skin tone. The pink is ok on me, but I feel it will work best with lighter skin tones.

16 Eye Shadows

The first row of eye shadows (L-R): Sand, Totally Nude, Nectar and Almond

These started off very weak! I got really nervous. HaHaHa I even used Smashbox primer on the back of my hand. The first three were lightly pigmented and chalky when swatched. I will say, they looked much better on the eyes than my hand. HaHaHa But Sand was still chalky. Almond was nice.

The second row of eye shadows (L-R): Truffle, Light Wave, Sunrise and Sunlight

These were much better! Truffle is a beautiful grey. You don't see many grey shadows in collections anymore. Then you're given a gorgeous milk chocolate metallic brown and gold shade; Sunlight is a gorgeous coppery-coral color.

Are any of you guys picking up a trend at this point? Yep, the metallic shades are the winners in this palette. They really stand out. Optics is a beautiful green! Very different. As a lover of the color purple, I love Metallic Violet. It's a rich, deep purple. I think the last two shades would really pair well together. The Metallic Brick has specks of gold in it and really would compliment Metallic Bronze.

I love the last row as well. You're given a black & brown matte! They're very pigmented, so that was good. Do you see Nocturnal? How gorgeous is that blue!?! I also love Backlit because of it's raisin color. It's very pretty.

Blushes

There are three blushes in this palette! Candlelight, Carnation and Spectrum. I tried all three and they are gorgeous! They're highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way. Honestly, all 3 shades should work for ALL SKIN TONES. I honestly believe it. I'm usually not for shimmery blushes, but Carnation is beautiful. I'm not a PINK makeup girl, and these are gorgeous on! And I'm totally smitten with Spectrum (peachy brown color).

My Final Thoughts: This is a really good palette for Fall/Winter. I was so comfortable with it, that I would just hold it with one hand, while standing in front of the mirror applying my makeup. I felt like a painter. HaHaHa Don't feel intimidated by this palette. I review a lot of makeup, but I'm still learning (application of things). This palette is definitely worth the money and will take your makeup game even further. If you travel, you nearly have everything you could want right here. I hope Smashbox makes more of these. I would love to have one for Spring also.

34 comments

I've never been a fan of these either and don't really pay much attention to them in store either. Though I've always thought they'd be perfect for travel. Of course I've never put that into practice either

I had a similar palette from Lancome for travel years ago and my big frustration with it was that I ran out of products at different times - there's nothing worse than having a giant palette where your favourite shadows have run out but you've still got a ton of blush! So initially it was practical but overall I swore I would never buy something similar again. And while this set does look tempting - I think I'm sticking to my guns for now. Great review, Kim!xox,Cee

You pictures, videos, and swatches are always SO on point! Cream products intimidate me too! This palette has it all! That is pretty good that all the blushes will work with diff skin tones and that there is something for everyone in this palette. Thanks for reviewing this Kim! I'm glad it was a winner for you!

It's always wonderful when you go out on a beauty limb and it actually works out. This palette looks like it has everything one could need so it's really good to hear that the products are all of good quality. The blushes are seriously all so pretty. I trust you when you say something is worth it Kim. This palette sounds like a good investment and yes it would be perfect for travel.

Okay, so I've been using the wrong color correcting color! I have some hyperpiguentaion and I'm more of a medium-olive skin tone and depending on the amount of foundation I apply, it can not only peek through, but show up a bit grey. I need to try an orange one and perhaps I'll give the one by Smashbox a try; I don't think my beloved Mineral Fusion brand makes their correctors in orange, only green :( This really is a beautiful palette, I love the packaging and concept, it was really thought out, just the fact that there's a divider to prevent color transfer demonstrates that! Thanks so much for sharing, beauty, and I hope you're having a great week so far!

PS: I always check to see what your sweet rating is before reading the post, haha. If I spot green, I know it's a winner!

That is a lot of stuff in the palette! I like that is covers all your needs when traveling and comes with instructions. I use color correcting when an uninvited pimple shows up. Why did this concept not exist when I was a teen? LOL

Gosh! This palette is seriously a whole kit in itself. How fab! Thanks for the review, Kim. My fave palette has always been the Kevyn Aucoin Contour Book Vol2 but I love how this one has the colour correctors.

I never would've even thought about the palette but your swatches are making me want it! You're so dangerous. :) I occasionally use a peach under eye corrector but most days I just stick with a medium-full coverage foundation and concealer instead. I have wanted one from YSL (peach one) but $$$.

The strange thing is I haven't read or heard about this palette until now, Kim so thank you so much for the review. I really like that they separated the cream and powder products and have a plastic flap to cover. So many brands mixed cream and powder products together and I don't understand why because the cream products get so dirty over time. I just checked the price of this palette and it's only retailing for C$75.00! Like wuttt?! Damn good value!

I feel the same way about the big palettes with everything in them usually. Sometimes they are overwhelming but sometimes you just can't deny that you want them LOL. Everything in this palette is gorgeous!! I've never tried color correcting before, but I have wanted to try out the green ones for redness on my face! I've also never tried cream contouring, it scares me! I'm glad to know they work well though! Those strobe powders are beautiful. And so are those blushes!!! You know I love that spectrum shade too lol! Totally our kind of blush shade Kim! All the shadows look gorgeous too, and you're so right about that nocturnal shade! That is the most stunning blue shade I've even seen!

Ah, I don't at ALL blame you for giving in to the multi-purpose palettes - they can be so dreamy! I love the inclusion of information cards, I'm nowhere near as skilled as I'd like to be and so they're veeeery much appreciated haha ;) Really pleased to hear you say the colour corrector work, I've bene wanting to try out some for a while now but was skeptical. Fab! Have an amazing weekend Kim :)

Love this post Kim and I've never heard of strobing either but I'm all for highlighting, so I'd definitely give it a try. I know what you mean about buying these big pallets too because I used to buy them and never use them, but I'm all about correcting makeup. I have used Smashbox correcting primers in the past and they do totally work. Great post! If I see one of these around at the holidays, I'll have to buy.

I am so thrilled I have just discovered your blog, lovely! It's been a while since I have read a review that could compare to yours - wow, I loved it. I have actually been looking at both the colour correcting and contouring, bronzing & highlighting palettes in Sephora but walked out without them. Regretting it now lol!! I have never tried colour correcting but super duper intrigued :) Will follow you on Bloglovin' & socials right away, Kim! xox Nadiawww.mielandmint.com

Hahaha, I tend to have the same viewpoint when looking at these extensive palettes - like holy cow, there are so many things packed in there!But I guess when you want everything in one place, this is the one to get :DI haven't tried color correcting palettes yet, so love that it has that. Man, this seriously looks like a great palette to have! I don't think I'd need anything else if I got this xD

Love this palette and how gorgeous are your swatches? Love how you given a detailed description about it, I haven't read any review on this one and thanks for sharing your review.I have a hard time using cream for contouring, I am so scared to do it too and as many times as I tried, I always fail! I think I will stick to my powders!

OMG! Kim, I love this! I must be the only one who has always loved these type of palettes. To be honest, I prefer things all in one place because I travel a lot so having to bring several items can be time-consuming and takes up space. This palette is an absolute must-have because it eliminates all of that. I don't have this palette but now I want it! I have only tried MAC's strobe cream but it wasn't for me. Thanks for the review. Happy weekend. <3 /MadisonFASHION TALES

I'm usually wary of multi-tasking palettes too, but this one looks special! I use color correcting, though I just use orange for dark spots. I haven't learned to use lavender yet :-) Cream contouring is easier than powder contouring, because if you make a mistake you don't have to remove with cleanser. On the other hand I always use a setting powder because it can be messy throughout the day :-) What impresses me the most are the metallic eyeshadows: how amazing is that Nocturne blue? The highlighting and strobing palettes too are delightful. What a small treasure you have here!! Amazing review by the way. Much love!